Reopening of the Theological Scholasticate of Bologna

Autumn 2026 will certainly remain in the Congregation’s memory due to the beatification in Bologna of Father Martino Capelli (September 27). For European Dehonians, however, it will also be so for another reason that once again concerns the city of Bologna. Indeed, eleven years after the departure of the last students, the community of the Scholasticate for the Missions is welcoming young confreres embarking on the path of theological studies once more.

The striking novelty is that these students are not Italian, but belong to other European entities of the Congregation. Following their novitiate in Aveiro, Portugal, which concluded with their first profession on September 5, Serhii Barnych (a Ukrainian from the Polish Province), Luiz Henrique Costa Santos (a Brazilian from the Portuguese Province), and Karlo Cicvarić (a Croat) arrived in Bologna at the end of September, where they will spend the years of their theological formation.

The choice of the European entities was therefore to have these three young confreres pursue their formation path together. A wise and reasonable choice in the context of a Europe affected by a progressive reduction in available forces, as well as candidates entering our Congregation.

We wish Serhii, Luiz, and Karlo a serene and fruitful journey during these years in Bologna, which will see them engaged in the lecture halls of the Theological Faculty of Emilia-Romagna, as well as in the renewal of their vows in view of perpetual profession. The Scholasticate community itself, which has stepped up once again to accompany them, also wishes to offer them an adequate fraternal and formative environment.